Packers' RFA Sam Shields has not signed offer sheet with any other teams

Green Bay --- As of Friday evening, the odds of Sam Shields being back with the Green Bay Packers for 2013 looked pretty good.

The restricted free agent was given a second-round tender by the Packers, which is Shields signs it, is worth $2.023 million next season. Shields has until 10:59 p.m. (CST) Friday to sign an offer sheet with another team.

And so far, according to a source, Shields has not signed any offer sheets with other teams. The Packers would receive a second-round pick as compensation if a team did sign Shields to the tender and they decided not to match.

If today comes and goes, Shields has until June 15 to sign his tender. And as noted here, if Shields does not sign the tender by then, the Packers have the right to limit his salary to 110% of the year before.

In essence, the two sides could try to hammer out a multi-year deal before that June 15 date. A recent report from Pro Football Talk indicated the two sides were talking about an extension.

Shields certainly helped his cause late last year. The third-year corner returned from a high ankle sprain Dec. 9 against Detroit and finished the season with four interceptions in his last six games. More important, the former college wide receiver's open-field tackling improved considerably in 2012. After Green Bay's season ended, cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. had high praise for the 25-year-old cornerback.

Green Bay's hands have been full this off-season negotiating with Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers, but Shields may be the next player in line for a new contract.

At the least, for now, signs point to Shields being with the Packers for 2013.

(Journal Sentinel photo by Rick Wood)

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.